Around The NBA: 2019-20 RESTART

[Andi Obst]

He was going for the ball and missed and hit the guy in the head. Didn't look intentional at all, so I don't see why it would merit a big suspension, if any.

If he was going for the ball there that's the worst try I've seen in quite some time. He wasn't even close. That's a really bad foul.

[FriedRise]

It's almost as bad as this one, which was ruled a flagrant 1 (no suspension).

Read on Twitter

After Niko, Lauri, now this, BP is getting that reputation now.

[Chi town]

That rookie in DET is looking really good. Wanted him at the draft if we traded down.

Watch on YouTube

[ZOMG]

Most upsetting is how not a single Lakers player went at Portis after that foul.

Not surprising at all. They know his reputation. Bobby is crazy enough not to follow the unwritten rules of physical NBA confrontations that basically exist to prevent any real damage. He actually might punch you in the mouth and take you out with no warning.

These guys are all millionaires, and most of them are actually smart dudes. Tempers might flare now and then, but nobody really wants to see people get hurt in these situations... it's 90% theatre. LeBron James would be crazy to get into an actual fight with Bobby Portis. His season (or career) might be over.

I'll never believe Bobby is truly a bad guy. But he can't control himself when he's on the basketball court, and that makes him very dangerous. These are not isolated incidents anymore.

[ChicagoStrong]

Read on Twitter

[ImSlower]

Read on Twitter

I have been eagerly awaiting his return. Now that we've agreed to an open marriage, my Bulls fandom still is dearest to my heart, but I've been on a fling with Luka n co that's been more exiting than I thought. I took an interest in Indy as soon as they signed Brogdon, and boy could that be a fun-as-hell team to watch. While we work on this flailing rebuild, those two teams are filling in my NBA entertainment. Obviously if the Bulls show any kind of ability to beat winning teams, I'll have to start hoping Indy falls off.

[Lolo]

He was going for the ball and missed and hit the guy in the head. Didn't look intentional at all, so I don't see why it would merit a big suspension, if any.

If he's really "going for the ball" dude needs his eyes checked. It's not the first time he's clobbered someone in the head while completely missing the actual ball. Dude can't control himself.

[MrSparkle]

He was going for the ball and missed and hit the guy in the head. Didn't look intentional at all, so I don't see why it would merit a big suspension, if any.

If he's really "going for the ball" dude needs his eyes checked. It's not the first time he's clobbered someone in the head while completely missing the actual ball. Dude can't control himself.

Yep. I get that Bobby didn't pre-plan it as an opportunity to injure KCP, but he clearly has no control in the moment over his emotions and arms. That was an insane amount of force to miss the ball by about 6" and wail a guy in the head.

And yeah, it's a shame. He's got energy, intensity, a good handle and shooting touch for a big man, but some whopping red flags with judgment. I was high on him in that low-minute rookie season, but as I saw him in higher volume, the kid's a disaster.

Atleast Artest had a high bball IQ to make up for his erratic behavior.

[RakimAbdulJabar]

He was going for the ball and missed and hit the guy in the head. Didn't look intentional at all, so I don't see why it would merit a big suspension, if any.

See I don't look at that as "going for the ball", that to me looks like "I'm going to try and send a message, but I'll also make it look like I was going for a block"

I feel like if you've played basketball and you see that in normal and slow motion, it just looks completely unnatural for someone genuinely attempting to block the ball.

Then you add on the incidents already mentioned with him hitting Lauri in the head and plays like the below and it starts to become pretty clear that this idiot thinks he's some kind of enforcer. I would love to put him a time machine and send him back to the 80's, let him try that on Charles Oakley or one of Oakley's teammates and see what happens.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[HomoSapien]

I was unsure about Sekou, but he's looking damn good. At this point, there's several rookies drafted after Coby that are looking really intriguing. It'll be interesting how this draft pick looks in a few years. If the draft was redone, Clarke, Hachimura, Sekou, Herro, PJ Washington, Thybulle, and maybe Jaxon Hayes all go earlier than they did.

[dice]

Read on Twitter

awfully specific on the date of return 3 weeks out. seems to me that when you're ready to go, you're ready to go

[MeloRoseNoah]

I was unsure about Sekou, but he's looking damn good. At this point, there's several rookies drafted after Coby that are looking really intriguing. It'll be interesting how this draft pick looks in a few years. If the draft was redone, Clarke, Hachimura, Sekou, Herro, PJ Washington, Thybulle, and maybe Jaxon Hayes all go earlier than they did.

This past draft looks to be deep with Luol Deng type of players.

It's too bad that our management doesn't have the foresight to look up on first rounders to fill up our depth instead of overpaying for bums like Thaddeus Young.

[kulaz3000]

I was unsure about Sekou, but he's looking damn good. At this point, there's several rookies drafted after Coby that are looking really intriguing. It'll be interesting how this draft pick looks in a few years. If the draft was redone, Clarke, Hachimura, Sekou, Herro, PJ Washington, Thybulle, and maybe Jaxon Hayes all go earlier than they did.

This past draft looks to be deep with Luol Deng type of players.

It's too bad that our management doesn't have the foresight to look up on first rounders to fill up our depth instead of overpaying for bums like Thaddeus Young.

It's funny that you mention that this years rookie class is full of Loul Deng type of players (we seemingly missed on), a player that the Bulls drafted.

Unless you draft a no.1 pick the likes of SHaq, LeBron, Derrick, there is always going to be draft envy, even when you select a solid player. I mean, where are all the people that were furious for months, maybe even years that we sold off the pick and passed on Jordan Bell, well who he play for right now?

Point being it's way too early to gauge who are going to be the best players from this class of rookies, and White could very well end up being one of the better players, you just don't know. And like I said, unless you get a bonafide star, there is always going to be that rookie you feel the team missed out on, even when you end up with a solid player.

[MeloRoseNoah]

I was unsure about Sekou, but he's looking damn good. At this point, there's several rookies drafted after Coby that are looking really intriguing. It'll be interesting how this draft pick looks in a few years. If the draft was redone, Clarke, Hachimura, Sekou, Herro, PJ Washington, Thybulle, and maybe Jaxon Hayes all go earlier than they did.

This past draft looks to be deep with Luol Deng type of players.

It's too bad that our management doesn't have the foresight to look up on first rounders to fill up our depth instead of overpaying for bums like Thaddeus Young.

It's funny that you mention that this years rookie class is full of Loul Deng type of players (we seemingly missed on), a player that the Bulls drafted.

Unless you draft a no.1 pick the likes of SHaq, LeBron, Derrick, there is always going to be draft envy, even when you select a solid player. I mean, where are all the people that were furious for months, maybe even years that we sold off the pick and passed on Jordan Bell, well who he play for right now?

Point being it's way too early to gauge who are going to be the best players from this class of rookies, and White could very well end up being one of the better players, you just don't know. And like I said, unless you get a bonafide star, there is always going to be that rookie you feel the team missed out on, even when you end up with a solid player.

I have no problem with the Coby White selection. In fact, if the draft is redone based on current performance, Coby White would still be selected at #7. In my eyes, Clarkes, Hachimura, Sekou, Jaxson Hayes, and Coby White are all Luol Deng types of players in this draft, with some gems like Herro being taken later in the draft.

This goes back to my original criticism of this team GarPax about not being creative enough to absorb long term contracts in return for higher second rounders or late first rounders instead of CASH in order to buy some retention bonus from Reinsdork for their garbage talent evaluation and performance.

[ImSlower]

Read on Twitter

awfully specific on the date of return 3 weeks out. seems to me that when you're ready to go, you're ready to go

I was going to make a crack that they'd want to bring him back against a team very likely to allow him to have a strong return game (i.e., the Bulls). Upon checking their schedule, that's their first home game in 12 days after a Western conference road trip. Seems like they decided to have his return be at Indy, and the 17th against the Wolves was too early for their time frame.

I agree with you that it seems he should come back as soon as his mind and body are ready, even at an away game, but I think "home game season debut" is their reasoning.

[ImSlower]

My two favorite Western Conference teams dueling tonight - Mavs v Nugs. A rare night off for me, and a rare nationally televised game I can stream free. I also really like Jeff Van Gundy's no-F's-given commentary, so I hope this game is fun throughout.

[dice]

Read on Twitter

awfully specific on the date of return 3 weeks out. seems to me that when you're ready to go, you're ready to go

I was going to make a crack that they'd want to bring him back against a team very likely to allow him to have a strong return game (i.e., the Bulls). Upon checking their schedule, that's their first home game in 12 days after a Western conference road trip. Seems like they decided to have his return be at Indy, and the 17th against the Wolves was too early for their time frame.

I agree with you that it seems he should come back as soon as his mind and body are ready, even at an away game, but I think "home game season debut" is their reasoning.

yeah, given that he's likely to be on a minutes restriction anyway, why not play more limited minutes on the road and give the fans a better performance/more minutes at home?

[The Explorer]

Damn I miss JB

Read on Twitter

[dice]

This past draft looks to be deep with Luol Deng type of players.

It's too bad that our management doesn't have the foresight to look up on first rounders to fill up our depth instead of overpaying for bums like Thaddeus Young.

It's funny that you mention that this years rookie class is full of Loul Deng type of players (we seemingly missed on), a player that the Bulls drafted.

Unless you draft a no.1 pick the likes of SHaq, LeBron, Derrick, there is always going to be draft envy, even when you select a solid player. I mean, where are all the people that were furious for months, maybe even years that we sold off the pick and passed on Jordan Bell, well who he play for right now?

Point being it's way too early to gauge who are going to be the best players from this class of rookies, and White could very well end up being one of the better players, you just don't know. And like I said, unless you get a bonafide star, there is always going to be that rookie you feel the team missed out on, even when you end up with a solid player.

I have no problem with the Coby White selection. In fact, if the draft is redone based on current performance, Coby White would still be selected at #7. In my eyes, Clarkes, Hachimura, Sekou, Jaxson Hayes, and Coby White are all Luol Deng types of players in this draft, with some gems like Herro being taken later in the draft.

rookie RPM wins produced (600 min minimum):

2.02 nunn (undrafted)
1.51 terence davis (U)
0.93 ja (2)
0.90 washington (12)
0.72 clarke (21)
0.49 hayes (8)
0.46 culver (6)
0.26 ky bowman (U)
0.02 hunter (4)
(0.26) herro (13)
(0.29) bazley (23)
(0.30) poole (28)
(0.54) cam johnson (11)
(0.60) barrett (3)
(0.87) garland (5)
(1.06) white (7)
(1.11) reddish (10)
(1.34) k porter (30)
(1.51) hachimura (9)
(1.53) paschall (41)

i cannot imagine that the bulls would still take white at #7

[kulaz3000]

Damn I miss JB

Read on Twitter

I'll always have a soft spot for Jimmy.

TJ Warren with the meaningless, see me at the back gesture. Seriously? At this stage, that move is just as bad as flopping when you know damn well nothing is going to happen after the game.